Wednesday, June 23, 2010

How to upgrade to iOS 4

More fun for iPhone or iPod users ... How to upgrade to iOS 4 and IOS 4 Review <--

Report: A fifth of Android apps expose private data | InSecurity Complex - CNET News

At first read, I'm not sure what to make of this article. On one level it overstates the obvious. When you have an entirely open system, bad guys may use it as a way to get malware onto your phone. You need to use some discernment. Okay. Got it.

Then in the next breath she brings up iPhone with its tightly controlled ecosystem. Sure it is possible that something could slip by, but it is highly unlikely and so far the only malware that has been found to work on an iPhone requires jailbreaking the phone. She didn't specify jailbreaking so I have to assume she means the official ecosystem which at this point doesn't make sense. Even Steve Gibson in an interview with Leo LaPorte on Security Now said that security was an advantage of Apple's closed system with the iPhone.

I almost think the author lumped iPhone in order to sell more copies of SMobile. I wonder where the report that this article was based on came from? Oh yeah, it was from SMobile, a company I've never heard of before. Now I get it.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Cheapskate - CNET News

It is not often that I see a sale this good. Selected EA titles for iPhone/iPod Touch are on sale for 99 cents through tomorrow. I picked up SimCity.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Bye bye bifocals, hello electronic spectacles

The electronic glasses, developed by US firm PixelOptics, can be adjusted manually to view objects at different distances by pressing a button on the side of the frames

Toshiba launches dual touch-screen laptop - Runs Windows 7.

This new dual-screen, touch-screen mini laptop design has two 7in, LED-backlit touch-screens. Toshiba says its compact size and clamshell form factor provides "unrivalled flexibility".

Sunday, June 20, 2010

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 06-20-10

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 06-20-10. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Ends Sunday Specials at Newegg. Western Digital Elements 1TB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive for $100 - $30 instant coupon = $70 shipped. Weighing in at only a few ounces, it fits easily into a pocket or a purse. This drive comes with a USB 2.0 interface which does not require any power adapter. Mac and Windows. Use Promo Code: EMCYWZW53 at checkout

ASUS MS236H Glossy Black / White 23" 2ms Widescreen LCD Monitor w/HDMI 250 cd/m2 ASCR 50000:1 for $230 - $50 savings - $20 rebate = $160 shipped. Use Promo Code: EMCYWZW45 at checkout.
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Western Digital External 1.5TB USB 2.0 Hard Drive for $120 - $35 instant savings = $85 shipped at Dell. This external USB 2.0 drive is preformatted for immediate use. Simply plug it in to a USB port of your system to add high-speed storage. The WD Elements Desktop External Hard Drive is an ideal choice to manage all your digital content between work and home. Ends June 23rd 6AM CST.



HP 17.3" Notebook PC Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 2.20GHz / 4GB RAM / 320GB Hard Drive / Intel GMA 4500MHD / DVD+/-R/RW Drive / Webcam / 802.11N / HDMI / Windows 7 Home Premium Save 29% This Weekend Only $529.99* Was $749.99 *After Mail-in Rebate

Dell Small Business offers the Dell Vostro 230 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz Slim Tower Desktop PC bundled with the Dell E2010H 20" Widescreen LCD Monitor for $429 plus $8 for shipping. Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB 7200 rpm hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, Gigabit Ethernet, and Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit.

Dell is taking 30% off five Dell monitors with coupon code BWMHLGDHF9CP3R [4000 total uses]. They include:
• Dell ST2310 23" 1920 x 1080 LCD for $161 shipped w/ code
• Dell ST2410 24" 1920 x 1080 LCD for $182 shipped w/ code
• Dell SP2309W 23" LCD w/ Webcam + USB Hub for $210 shipped w/ code


Buy.com has the refurbished Samsung P2770H 27" 2ms Widescreen LCD Monitor for $279 with free shipping. • 1920x1080 resolution, 70000:1 contrast ratio, 2ms response time 170° H 160° V viewing angle, 300 cd/m2 brightness, DVI-I & HDMI inputs


Newegg has the EVGA 01G-P3-N958-LR GeForce 9500 GT 1GB 128-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card for $45 - $20 rebate [Exp 7/10] + $2 shipping = $27 shipped. Features 550MHz core clock speed and up to 2560 x 1600 maximum resolution.

Today's App Corner: AroundMe

AroundMe

With travel season upon us, we are taking a look at this handy app that will help you find the stuff around you!

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) The idea that a transition to alternate energy sources needs to be some super complex ten decade process seems to me to be missing the point somehow. I think it will be the smaller less complex devices that will lead the way. We always seem to think in terms of paving over half of the Mojave Desert installing square miles of solar and wind generators. Then rebuilding the entire grid to accommodate them. I think it will be a more basic movement, one roof top at a time. To me the simpler the process the more likely the success. Another thing that seems apparent to me is that the developing world will lead the way. They do not need to replace their infrastructure, because it has not been built yet. For them local solar, or wind makes more sense that running thousands of miles of power lines. Here is a great example of a cheap solar lighting product, I would like to get one also in case I decide to go camping again. http://news.cnet.com
2) This is one of those make you think articles, it would make a great Sci-Fi story line. The trouble is that in today’s world it does not sound so far out there. If you have not heard about the Artilects I am not that surprised, it was new to me. But, I realized that somehow the idea has been lurking in the back of my mind for a while now. They are talking about the ultimate evolution of man, robot, and cyborg. Article here http://www.technofascismblog.com
3) This as an article that illustrates a concept I have held for a long time. Every time I try and grasp a new theory in physics, I have thought this is most likely the problem facing man and science. The idea that the human mind just does not have the necessary capability to comprehend the problem. Our world has gotten more and more complex, the more we learn, the more obvious it is we have not yet managed to identify the question. Personally that is the way I like it, take away the mystery and all you have is boredom. http://www.edmontonsun.com
4) This is one that Joe and I found almost at the same time, I found several interesting points in the story. The headline that got me was “How Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison Killed the Electric Car”. I first learned how far back the electric cars went watching a video clip on the Baker Car at Jay Leno’s Garage site. A lot of people just do not know the history of the electric car, odd to think we could have been there many years ago, it would have saved us a lot of trouble. http://jalopnik.com
5) Now for my geek link I found this article about a concept computer Sony thinks will be in our future. It looks to me like it would be enough to make Dick Tracy roll over in his grave. It seems somehow odd to me to think it was within my lifetime the idea of a two way wrist radio was so advanced to be thought of as science fiction. But, the really strange idea is by the time they actually develop something like this, it will be obsolete. http://www.yankodesign.com

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Office 2010 hits retail shelves (images)

When Office 2010 hits retail shelves on Tuesday, one of several new options will be for new PC buyers to purchase a product key card that upgrades their machine from a limited free version called Office Starter to the full version. Though good for only a single machine, the product key cards will be cheaper than the full boxed copies of the software, which can be used on either two or three PCs, depending on the edition.

The Live CD list

I stumbled on this. Lots and lots of live CD links. Check it out, more good ones then I can mention. (hope I didn't post this already LOL).

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Nasa warns solar flares from 'huge space storm' will cause devastation

Britain could face widespread power blackouts and be left without critical communication signals for long periods of time, after the earth is hit by a once-in-a-generation “space storm”, Nasa warns

YouTube Removes 'Flotilla Choir' Video despite 3 million hits...

Citing copyright infringement, YouTube removed Latma's "We Con the Word" on Friday, despite the video having received over 3 million hits in one week! Is this Net-Neutrality?

Sunday, June 13, 2010

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 06-13-10

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 06-13-10. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Earl''s Cyber Steals and Deals

Today only, Shnoop.com offers the Rayovac AAA I-C3 15-Minute Rechargeable Battery 12-Pack for $11. With free shipping, These
batteries purport to offer a charging time of 15 minutes or less. Note that they're bulk packaged and will arrive without the Rayovac I-C3 charger, which enables 15-minute charging times.

TigerDirect.com offers the Lexar 32GB
JumpDrive TwistTurn USB 2.0 Flash Drive, model no. LJDTT32GASBNA, for $49.99. Pay via Google Checkout and it falls to $44.99.

For "M" Club members only, mwave offers the Samsung 22x Serial ATA Internal Dual Layer DVD Burner with LightScribe, model no. SH-S223L, for $19.99 with free shipping.(Click the "M" Club banner to sign up for a free membership.) The SH-S223L burns DVD+R and DVD-R media at 22x, DVD-RAM media at 12x, dual layer DVD+R at 16x, dual layer DVD-R media at 12x, DVD+RW media at 8x, DVD-RW media at 6x, CD-RW media at 32x, and CD-R media at 48

At Blockbuster
Express kiosks, get any 1-night DVD rental for free via the coupon codes listed below. (You can enter these codes online or at the kiosk itself; each is only valid once per account.). Search for a Blockbuster Express kiosk location near you. Valid codes include "GT14A," "GL14A," "GT14A," "GL14A," and "GL15A."

HP
Home & Home Office Store offers its HP Pavilion Slimline s5370t Intel Core i3 2.93GHz Desktop PC (no monitor), model no. AZ214AV#ABA, for $549.99. Coupon code "SVMB39487" drops it to $524.99. With free shipping, that's tied with our mention from four weeks ago as the lowest total price we could find for this configuration, although we saw it for $13 less in February (since expired). Sales tax is added where applicable. It features an Intel Core i3-530 2.93GHz dual-core processor, 4GB RAM, 640GB 7200 rpm hard drive, DVD burner with LightScribe, Gigabit Ethernet, 6-in-1 media card reader, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

GoHardDrive.com has the GoHardDrive 3532F 3.5" SuperSpeed USB 3.0 to SATA Aluminum External Hard Drive Enclosure for $35 with free shipping. Features up to 5 Gbps data transfer, backward compatible with USB 2.0, and is lead-free

Today only. Sears has the Fujifilm Finepix XP10 12MP Waterproof Camera for $150 - 10% off in cart = $135 with free in-store pickup. Shipping option is $7. [Compare]
12.2MP, 2.7" 230K LCD, 5X optical zoom, 720p video, underwater mode
Waterproof (3m), shockproof (1m), freezeproof (-10 degrees), dustproof

Mwave has the Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive for $65 + $0 shipping = $65 shipped with free "M" Club membership. The WD Blue offers midrange performance and sits between the low power WD Green and high performance WD Black.

B&H Photo Video has the Western Digital WDH2NC20000N My Book World Edition II 2 TB (2 x 1TB) NAS External Hard Drive for $179 with free shipping. Features RAID 0/1/Span/JBOD support, remote file access, gigabit ethernet, automatic network backup, and USB port for storage expansion.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) With everything going south in the economy, and especially with real estate, when I saw this I just thought there must be countless places where the idea may apply. I was reading the next real estate collapse is expected to hit the commercial sector. As specialty stores begin to have trouble meeting lease payments. This may provide a way out for some, and it’s a green solution. http://blog.cleveland.com
2) This is so zone, when I saw it I was just blown away. I am used to science fiction predicting the future by becoming science fact, but usually that is something to do with technology. Seems they have found a monolith on a moon of Mars. Right out of Space Odyssey 2010. http://www.dailygalaxy.com
3) As long as we are talking space stuff this is a couple weeks old, I almost used it a couple of times, but it just kept getting shuffled down the list. I find it interesting when science finds something quite new and unique. They found a new ‘phase’ of water out in space, the ones we usually think about are ice, liquid, and vapor. Now they have a new fourth state created in star formation. http://www.space.com
4) Not too sure what I think about this site, one could say it is a criminal training manual, I suppose it is not as bad as a bomb instruction manual. And, I have to admit I am tempted to play around with it just out of curiosity. It is MIT’s Ultimate Lock Picking Bible, and it is a free download. Billed as a complete necessity for every lock smith/crooks library. http://www.wonderhowto.com
5) This article asks the question does the internet make you smarter. Really a pretty interesting read, points out that the majority of what is printed on the internet as news is created by people not that skilled in presenting content. Then they point out that this is just the way it happens, and has been happening with all new communication forms. http://online.wsj.com

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Bug gives attackers complete control of some XP and Srvr 2003 Windows PCs

The exploit works in XP and Server 2003 versions of Windows and possibly others. The flaw resides in the Windows Help and Support Center, a feature that provides users with online technical support. Malicious hackers can exploit the weakness of Windows by embedding commands in web addresses that activate the feature's remote assistance tool

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Do I Have to Respond to the ACS or Census?

This is mostly a 165 entry Blog about folks that do not want to answer all the personal questions on the census. Most people are learning to just ignore census workers until they go away. Harassment by phone and at your door seems to take place. - As for me I didn't send in the form and now have about 6 notices left on my door. I have never filled out a census and ain't startin now. - Earl
Don't Trust the Census.
Why You Should Abstain from the Census

Monday, June 07, 2010

AT&T throws down usage-based pricing gauntlet

Might send Ipad users to the poor house......
No way to really know. But it’s a good bet that the 65% aren't using Apple iPhones and are more oriented toward e-mail (think BlackBerry) and social networking